Friday, August 10, 2007

Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), yummy muffins

Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum, sinikas or 'blue' berry in Estonian) is a close relative of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., mustikas or 'black' berry in Estonian) and high-bush blueberry (Vaccinium Cyanococcus or V. corymbosum, kännasmustikas e. kultuurmustikas in Estonian). The first two can be distinguished by looking at their stems (brown for bog bilberries and green for bilberries) or leaves (blue-green for bog bilberries, green for bilberries) and by biting into the fruit (bog bilberries have a pinkish flesh, bilberries are blackish-purple throughout, blueberries are whitish-green inside). Also, the bog bilberry fruit is slightly oblong in shape, whereas bilberries are round, and blueberries round, but much larger than the first two.

Just so you'd know..

I made bog bilberry muffins, and took them along to my sister's and my two nephews' joint birthday party last Sunday. You cannot really see that from the picture, but I baked the muffins in football-print muffin cases. They were quite a hit amongst the 20-something small boys (and few girls) aged between 4 and 8, believe me. I'd like to think it wasn't just the cunningly chosen muffin papers :)

Whisk eggs with sugar until pale and frothy.Mix the dry ingredients. Add to the egg mixture together with sour cream and melted butter. Fold in the forest berries.Fill 12 hole muffin tray and bake at 225 C for 13-15 minutes, until muffins have risen and turned golden brown.

I've always left the bog bilberries (juolukka in Finnish, odon in Swedish) alone as they have a bit of a bland reputation (also because they grow in the ¤#!% mosquito-y part of the forest). Clearly I should reconsider!

Cardamon and these berries (any of them) would seem to be a hit in any wrapper! I've got to remember cardamon the next time I make blueberry muffins. Look like wonderful lush muffins (yogurt is always so good in muffins) Pelli, Thanks.

I live in O:ntario Canada and there are no products with bog bilberry even in the best health food/holistic type stores...where can i buy this? can i buy them from you since you have access to them? Hope you can help,thanks